Best of ERS: 20 years of observing Earth

Watch the celebration and scientific workshop on the legacy of the two ERS satellite missions. The events were held on 27 September at ESRIN, ESA’s centre for Earth observation, in Frascati, Italy.

Earlier this month, the veteran ERS-2 satellite was shut down after its orbit was lowered to reduce the risk of collision with other satellites and space debris.

ERS-2 was launched in 1995, four years after ERS-1, the first European Remote Sensing satellite.

With 20 years of continuous measurements, the two missions paved the way for the development of many new Earth observation techniques in the areas of atmosphere, land, ocean and ice monitoring.

To mark the milestone in ESA’s Earth observation programme, a workshop on the outstanding achievements and scientific legacy of the satellites brought together the people behind the pioneering missions.